Somnath temple

 

The Somnath temple, also called Somanātha temple or Deo Patan, is a Hindu temple located in Prabhas Patan, Veraval in Gujarat, India. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.[1] The temple was reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by multiple Muslim invaders and rulers, notably starting from an attack by Mahmud Ghazni in the 11th century.[2][3][4][5] It is unclear when the first version of the Somnath temple was built with estimates varying between the early centuries of the 1st-millennium to about the 9th-century CE.[6][7]

Somanatha Temple

Somnath Mandir

Somnath temple in Gujarat

Religion

Affiliation

Hinduism

District

Gir Somnath district

Deity

Shiva

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri

Governing body

Shree Somnath Trust

Location

Location

Veraval (Somnath)

State

Gujarat

Country

India

Somnath temple is located in GujaratSomnath temple

Shown within Gujarat

Show map of Gujarat

Show map of India

Show all

Geographic coordinates

20°53′16.9″N 70°24′5.0″E

Architecture

Style

Māru-Gurjara

The Somnath temple is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot in Gujarat, India. It is located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujrat and is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It was reconstructed in the Chalukya style of Hindu temple architecture and was completed in May 1951. The reconstruction was started under the orders of the Indian Home Minister, Vallabhbhai Patel and completed after his death.

The Somnath temple as seen from the front

 This short article about religion can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

History

Somnath is a magnificent temple situated in Sagar Kant of Saurashtra in Gujarat state. One of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is in Jyotirlinga here in Somnath. Somnath is also mentioned in Rigveda. This temple of Somnath has been very attractive in front of many destructive foreign invaders who want to lure and convert to the temple glory. Whenever the temple has tried to destroy it, then it has been built again.

SOMNATH

Somnath’s first temple is said to have existed 2000 years ago. Is. In 649 AD, King Maitre of Vallabhini built a second temple in place of the temple and renovated it. In 725, the old ruler of Sindh took his army and attacked the temple and destroyed the temple. Pratishtha King Nag Bhatt II constructed the temple for the third time in 815 using a red stone (sandstone) stone. In 1026, Mahmud Ghazni lent the precious jewels and property of Somnath temple. After looting, slaughtering innumerable pilgrims of the temple and burning the temple and destroying it. During 1026-1042 Solanki Raja Bhimdev built the fourth temple of Bhoj and Anhilwad Patan, Parmar King of Malwa.Somnath was destroyed when Delhi Sultanate occupied Gujarat in 1299. In 1394 it was destroyed again. In 1706, Mughal ruler Aurangzeb again demolished the temple.

RECONSTRUCTION

India’s Iron Man and First Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on November 13, 1947 promised to rebuild the temple. Today’s Somnath Temple is built on its original place in seventh place. When the temple was rebuilt on December 1, 1995, then the Indian President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma dedicated the temple to the country. In 1951, when India’s first President Dr. When

One of the sacred Indian temples of Lord Shiva, this place gets visitors from all over the globe courtesy of its spiritual aura. The fact that this temple is situated near the Arabian sea only adds to the overall vibrancy of this place. 

It is unfortunate to know that this temple has been destroyed and built several times during the course of prolonged Hindu history by the Muslim and Portuguese invaders. But despite all the atrocities, this place still remains one of the most popular tourist pilgrimage destinations in Gujarat. This present temple was essentially created in the Chalukya style of architecture and was completed in the year 1951. The orders to carry out the construction of the building of this temple were given by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel himself which got completed after his death. 

The word Somnath means Lord of the Soma who is none other than Lord Shiva. If the legends are to be believed then the Shivalinga which is present in Somnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of immense value in Hindu mythology. These Jyotirlingas are the places that are believed to be the sites where Lord Shiva had appeared as a fiery column of light. 

Moving to the best time to visit Somnath Temple, since summer gets unbearable in the state of Gujarat, winter is the best time to visit the temple. September to March tends to be calm and cold which is better than traveling in hot weather.

History Of Somnath Temple

Since ancient times, the Somnath temple has been treated as one of the greatest pilgrimage sites in India. The major reason for this is the fact that it is located on the confluence of three rivers - also known as Triveni Sangam - namely Kapila, Hiran